NEW WEBSITE REACHES OUT TO AREA STUDENTS

TILLSONBURG - LANGTON - Ask today's teenagers if there are drugs
swirling in their schools. Most will likely nod their heads in
acknowledgement, but they will have only little information - or
perceptions gleaned from the media - about the touchy subject.

Just ask Kendra Skinner, a Grade 11 student, who completed an online
quiz on drugs at Valley Heights Secondary School yesterday. She was
surprised to learn that there are more than 400 chemicals in marijuana.

A new educational website, however, is hoping to shed some light on
drug fact and fiction. The portal - thechillzone.ca - is an initiative
of the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit. It features detailed information
on major drugs, how to handle peer pressure and knowledge games in the
hope of providing a "constant message to the teens," said Michelle
Pasichnyk, health promoter with the local unit. There is also
information for parents, such as a list of warning signs of drug abuse
and how to broach the difficult subject.

"For teens, it will be useful and helpful," Skinner said after
completing her quiz.

Representatives of the health unit have been busy touting the Chill
Zone at local high schools over the last few weeks. They interacted
with Valley Heights students yesterday, asking them to do an online
quiz on laptops and pick up some swag in the foyer.

" It's been a really positive response," Pasichynk
said.

While discussions on drugs have been happening in classrooms for
years, the sleek new website dials into the realm of this generation
of teenagers.

" I think kids are pretty well connected," said principal Dave Abbey.
"It's a medium that they are comfortable with."

The Internet also adds a level of privacy for teenagers shy about the
subject.

"I think it's better to have it on the Internet because you can do it
privately and without people watching over you," said Chelsea Ryde, a
Grade 12 student.

" I don't think it's something you want parents or teachers to know,"
added Alison Earls, a fellow Grade 12 student.

Even the vague name for the website was chosen for the ease of
students, Pasichnyk added. Parents may not grow suspicious if they see
the Chill Zone in their browser history.

" That's why we named it the Chill Zone - it's very discreet," she
said.

The Chill Zone also features cutting-edge interactive elements. There
is an ask the expert section where teens can pose drug-related
questions to a mental health professional.

"What we're doing is blogging the questions and answers without names
attached," Pasichynk added.

While there are no recent statistics on youth drug use within
Haldimand-Norfolk counties, there are Ontario wide statistics
available on the Chill Zone, she added. The 2009 Ontario Student Drug
Use and Health Survey reports that 25.6% of students reported cannabis
use in the past year. An equal amount of students reported
binge-drinking at least once in the past month.